Saturday, February 25, 2012

Over the years, more than one patient has said to me, "Why do I turn to food to numb, distract or comfort myself?"One woman said, "Why didn't I turn to crack or meth? At least I'd be thin!"

She was half-joking, but the question was serious. One answer is that as human beings, our very first experience of love and connection is when we're being fed. Nursing, whether by breast or bottle, is an experience of harmony and bliss with another person. At some level, turning to food may represent a wish to feel secure, loved, and comforted. When one's relationship to hunger (physical hunger or emotional needs/wants) becomes distorted, so does the relationship to food. The following questions are "food for thought" to explore what food means to you:

To me, food represents…

(i.e., food represents love and comfort)

Eating has been a way for me to…

(i.e., eating has been a way for me to escape painful emotions)

All my life I’ve used food as…

(i.e., I’ve used food as a way to numb/comfort/attack/punish myself)

The feelings I use food to bury are…

(mad, sad, fearful, anxious, guilty, etc.)

Food helps me avoid…

(i.e., food helps me avoid disappointment in my life or in other people)

Sometimes I’m afraid to eat because…

(i.e., I’m afraid to eat because I don’t want to give up the sense of power I get from restricting…. I’m afraid I won’t stop eating… I don’t want to need anything, including food)

Comments and questions are welcome. Please share on Facebook and/or Twitter so more people can benefit from the information on this blog.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Recently, I visited my friend Bethany, who just brought home a new puppy. The puppy sniffed my shoes when I came inside, and began to bark.

Bethany used a silly voice, talking as the dog. “Who’s this?Who are you?Friend or a foe?”

Bethany is a Shakespearean-trained actress - apparently the puppy was also a fan of the Bard.I leaned down and scratched the puppy’s head.

“Oh, I like that,” said Bethany, still speaking in the puppy voice.“A little to the left.”

The puppy blinked soft brown eyes.I shook my head, laughing.“I know what you’re thinking,” I said to the dog.“You’re thinking, ‘My owner is a crazy woman.’”

Bethany picked up her puppy and nuzzled it.“I am crazy.Crazy about you.”

My friend and I were reading the dog’s mind.In this case, our mindreading was innocuous and humorous.Often, however, people imagine they know what others are thinking, and they are thinking the worst, as in the following examples:

Arturo lay on the couch in my office, telling me about his weekend.He saw a couple of movies and spent time with his girlfriend. I listened, but said nothing. He sighed. "You're right, I should have done some work this weekend.I can’t believe how lazy I am."

Corinne wept in frustration as she described a recent problem at work. She blew her nose and shook her head, apologetically. "You probably think I'm such a crybaby."

My friend Kellie and I had dinner recently, and she ordered dessert. She gave me a sheepish look. "I know what you're thinking. I have no business eating tiramisu."

Each person in these examples projected his or her own critical thoughts about themselves, into me, and then felt guilty or ashamed.

Arturo’s father always accused him of being a slacker, and he had internalized that view of himself.He thought I was viewing him through his father’s eyes.

Corinne grew up in a family that did not tolerate emotions or tears, which were viewed as signs of weakness.She imagined that I was viewing her tears contemptuously.

What do you think others are thinking about you?Are they critical?Kind?Indifferent?Angry?

Who viewed you that way in the past?How have you identified with them?

What is another way to view yourself and the situation? For example, “It’s important to relax over the weekend and recharge your batteries” or “it’s healthy to cry if you’re upset” or “it’s okay to eat dessert, or anything, in moderation.”

Mind reading leads to feeling bad, which can lead to disordered eating. When you stop thinking the worst of yourself, you will likely no longer fear that others are thinking the worst of you, and will not turn to, or from, food, to soothe, distract, or numb yourself.

Comments and questions are welcome. Please share on Facebook and/or Twitter so more people can benefit from the information on this blog.

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About Dr. Nina

Dr. Nina Savelle-Rocklin is a psychoanalyst who specializes in weight, food and body image issues. She is a recognized expert on eating disorders, interviewed and quoted by the Los Angeles Times, Prevention, Real Simple, and many other publications. She is currently writing a book for Rowman & Littlefield on the psychoanalytic treatment of eating disorders.
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